The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in Jharkhand is facing heat over seat sharing as all four constituent parties have yet to come for a consensus on seat sharing formula. The four parties have reached an agreement on number of seats—Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Babulal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) and RJD will contest, but the four parties are yet to decide on seats which they will contest.

Adding bitterness to grand alliance is Congress MLA, Irfan Ansari’s persistent demand of Godda seat for his father and senior Congressman from State Furkan Ansari, despite the fact that Godda seat has been said to be given to JVM.

Furkan who had earlier represented the Godda seat in 2004 is strong claimant of Godda seat, but as a seat sharing formula between grand alliance parties the seat has been allotted to JVM.  Irfan the Congress MLA from Jamtara said, “Godda has been a traditional bastion of Congress, but, in coalition dharma the seat has been given to JVM, which we have been continuously opposing. We have also tried to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi but we have not got the time.” 

Ansari further said, “If Godda seat is not given to Furkan Saheb a minority community leader, how the grand alliance leaders will go to minority seeking their votes.” Irfan’s observation assumes importance as Godda a parliamentary constituency on eastern side of State is minority dominated seat.

Sources said that there are around 1.5 to 2 lakh minority voters. Similarly, out of six assembly constituencies falling under Godda parliamentary seat, two seats—Jarmundi and Madhupur have high concentration of minority voters. The younger Ansari who is more vocal in Assembly said that Mahagathbandhan talks about minority welfare, but I fear that this time too there will be no Muslim candidates from Grand Alliance if Godda seat is not given to Furkan Saheb.

Godda is not only the seat where confusion prevails; JVM and RJD are also on loggerheads over Palamu seat. As per seat sharing agreement Palamu seat has been given to Babulal Marandi’s JVM, but RJD too has staked their claim for the seat.

RJD State general secretary and party spokesperson, Manoj Kumar said, “Palamu and Chatra has remain as RJD traditional seat. The social demography and political atmosphere in these two parliamentary constituencies are in favour of RJD.” Manoj Kumar said, RJD has represented Palamu seats on earlier occasions too, also the assembly constituencies such as Husssainabad, Garhwa, Bishrampur which falls under Palamu has remained RJD bastion.

The confusion is also over Khunti seat as JMM lawmaker from Torpa Paulus Surin too has batted for Khunti seat which has remained as traditional claimant of Congress. Sources said that if JMM MLA pitches for Khunti seat, the game of grand alliance in Jharkhand will be in trouble as in no way Congress will leave the Khunti seat.